Saturday, February 6, 2016
The beginning of February is Chinese New Year. This is the Year of the Monkey and there have been numerous celebrations around Atlanta to ring in the change in the lunar calendar.
Makan is a restaurant in Decatur run by Michael Lo and George Yu that has wonderful Asian cuisine. The pair thought why not invite 200 of their favorite people to eat, drink, watch a Lion Dance performance and raise some money for Athena’s Warehouse. Pork buns, dumplings, noodles and egg rolls were on the menu, Creature Comforts, a local Athens brewery, came in and took over the taps at the bar and the Chien Hong Kung Fu School came in to perform the lion dance, complete with drums, costumes and a blessing for the new year.
Grace Le (right) and Claire Tran eat during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Lily Schulkins (left) serves dumplings to Jeanne Hsieh during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
A roasted pork belly bun is just one of the dishes served during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Courtney Adams (right) and Jeff Bell prepare food during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Kristin Crocker (center) talks to Melanie DeWitt during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Sam Roberts (center) talks to Asher Burk during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
A fried tofu bun is just one of the dishes served during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Jenny Osbon (center) talks to Michelle Jones during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Nancy Chen (center) talks to Erin Barbee as they eat during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
James Murphy (right), Ottoniel Flores and Jacquilyn Simmons perform during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Dressed as the Monkey King, Andrew Zucker leads Mary Ruth Ralston and Brian Depue through the crowd during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Andrew Jimenez (left) stares down a lion during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Brian Depue (bottom center) holds Mary Ruth Ralston on his shoulders as she takes down a head of cabbage during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Brian Depue (bottom center) holds Mary Ruth Ralston on his shoulders as she unfurls a happy new year sign during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Makan in Decatur on Saturday, February 6, 2016.